Apparatus for raising or forcing liquid.



H. A. HUMPHREY. APPARATUS FOR RAISING QR FORCING LIQUID.

APPLICATION HLEDIULY 22, I911;

Patented. Feb. 6,1917.

3 SHEETS-SHEET I INVEIITUR Mm 0 W ATTORNEY.

H. A. HUMPHRE'Y.

APPARATUS.FOR RAISING 0R EORCING LIQUID.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 22. I911- Patented Feb. 6, 1917.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2 WITNESSES A TTOIMEY.

H. A. HUMPHREY. v APPARATUS FOR RAISING 0R FOR-CING LIQUID.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 22. I911- Patented Feb. 6,1917.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3 WI THESSES INVENTOR ATTORNEY.

- i'1ERT ALFRED HUMPHBEY, OF LONDON, ENGLAND, ASSIGNOR TO BUMPER E? GASPUMP COMPANY, CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

APPARATUS FOR RAISING 0B FORCING LIQUID.

Application filed July 22, 1911. Serial No. 639,978.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HERBERT ALFRED HUMrHRn'Y, a subject of the King'ofGreat Britain, residing in London,-England, have invented a new anduseful Apparatus for Raising or Forcing Liquid, of which the followingis a specification.

My invention relates to internal combustion pumps and compressors, inwhich a column of liquid is propelled outwardly from a combustionchamber by an expansive force whereby a fresh expansible charge isintroduced, and in which a column of liquid flows inwardly toward acombustion chamber whereby the charge is compressed. I

The object of my invention is to provide an improved means whereby thekinetic energy of the outwardly propelled column of liquid may beutilized in introducing a fresh expansible charge. I may also introducefresh scavenging air before the burnt products are expelled.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, illustrating merely by way ofexample, preferred forms of my invention, Figure 1 is a diagrammaticvertical section. Fig. 2 is a detail in vertical section on an enlargedscale of an inlet valve. Fig. 3 is a fragmentary vertical sectionshowing modification in combustion chamber and inlet and exit valves.Fig. 4 is a vertical section showing other modifications. Fig. 5 is avertical section showing further modifications in combustion chamber andinlet and exit valves -and also showing a free piston interposed betweenthe charge and the liquid. Fig. 6 is a vertical section showing meansand method for introducing gas and air by movements in the supplyliquid.

Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

I find that it is possible to introduce into the combustion chamber afresh combustible charge before the exhaust gases have been expelledfrom the chamber, without preignition. Moreover, whether the combustiblecharge is drawn in by partial vacuum or introduced under sufficientpressure to produce displacement, such charge may be introduced in sucha way that the combustible mixture and the exhaust gases are keptseparate or sulficiently separate until the bulk v of the exhaust gasesis expelled.

' Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. e. tart.

For avoiding pro-ignition and for preventing mtermixing'as far aspossible, the

combustion chamber should be suitably shaped and the inlet and exhaustvalves suitably arranged relatively to each other; for the same. purposethe combustible charge may be preceded by a quantity of air.

The following is an example of the working cycle which may be obtainedz-lgnition of a compressed combustible charge followed by expansion ofthe burnt products. and the intake of a fresh combustible charge(accompanied or not by the intake of fresh liquid) during the outstrokeof the liquid column. During the instroke of the liquid column burntproducts are'first expelled and then the fresh combustible chargecompressed ready for ignition to start a fresh cycle. If the scavengingair or the combustible charge or both are supplied under slightpressure, then they can begin to enter as soon as the burnt gases haveexpanded approximately to atmospheric pressure and continue to enteruntil the instroke of the liquid column closes the exhaust valve. ofthis cycle arises from the fact that there need be no locking gearbetween the inlet and exhaust valves, and this renders the use of a.number of inlet and exhaust valves an easy matter so that large valveareas may be employed. High compression pressures may also be obtained,since during its instroke the liquid column may gain velocity whiledriving out' the gaseous contents of the combustion chamber until theexhaust valve closes, and compression of the fresh combustible chargebegins. Again, certain portions of the combustion chamber may bemaintained comparatively hot and dry, and such hot portions may beconveniently used in connection with the use of liquid fuels whichrequire to be vaporized.

In Fig. 1, 1 is the main body of a com.- bustion chamber, circular inplan, the upper part 2 of which is annular and closed except for a ringof admission valves two of which, 3 and 3* are shown. At a lower level-are exhaust valves 4 adapted to open their own weight and to be closedby the action of the liquid when it reaches them. Nonreturn valves 5situated in a partition 6 allow burnt gases to pass into the exhaustpipe 7 but not to return, and such" valves One of the advantagesbid-made Very light so as to 0 en underl liquid, and 9 is in turnconnected with the 'la pipe '11 which leads to a place of ig er level orpressure and in which the liquid column reciprocates. A tank 12"contains the li uid to be raised and is fed with fresh liqui throughinlet'13. Gonsiderin first only those parts already mentioned an 4assuming that valves 3, 3 are normally held closed by light springswhich allow the valves. to open under suction and the combustiblemixture, one method of operati-ng isas follows:

A compressed combustible charge is ignited in the top of 2 and expansionoccurs driving liquid downward in chamber 1 and outwardly along pipe 11so that the liquid column therein attains considerable kinetic energy.Suppose that the expended ases attain atmospheric pressure when theliquid level is at a a in chamber 1. The liquid column in 11 is thenmoving with considerable velocity and valves 10 open. and ad mit moreliquid inte 9 to follow the moving liquid. Exhaust valves 4 open undertheir own weight but the suction which occurs in chamber 1 cannot drawin exhaust products since valves 5 prevent this, but the continuedmovement of the column of liquid lowers the level to b b and causes theintake of combustible mixture through valves 3,. 3, so that the incomingmixture occupics the space in 2' down to the level say of c c,displacing the burnt products from this part of the chamber. Thevolumetric change represented by the fall of liquid from a a to b b canbe controlled by altering the level of liquid in tank12 which for thepresent is regarded as an open top tank. If the level of the liquid in12 is raised then the tendency of liquid to flow. from 12 into chamber 1is increased and the volumetric change in 1 is diminishedl' Conversely,if the level of liquid in 12 is'diminished the volumetric change isincreased and thus by such control the combustible-charge taken into 2can be made to occupy the space approximately to the level a c. When andcompresses the combustible charge in the liquid column-has come to restthe suction in chamber 1 ceases andvalves 3, 3 close under the action oftheir springs. A return movement of the column now begins under theaction of a head or pressure and, valves 10 having also been closed bytheir springs, liquid rises in 1, drives out burnt gases through valves4, shuts these valves the upper portion of the chamber until the columnof liquid again comes to rest. Ignition of the charge then starts afresh cycle.

It being desirable that the fresh combustible charge should beintroduced in such manner as to preventit mixing wlth the can be soproportioned that the air valves open first when suction occurs.

It all the valves admit mixture, they can be constructed as shown, drawnto an enlarged scale, in Fig. 2 so that the first part of the openingmovement gives passage for air only,'while further opening admits bothgas and air. Thus the valve 63 controls both the air port 14 and the gasport 15.. It

' will be evident that air is admitted so soon as the valve leaves itsouter seat, and only after it has moved distance 0? will gas beadmitted.

' Fig. 3 shows another form of combustion chamber where the combustiblegases are admitted into a central portion 2 and the exhaust valves arein ,a ring below 2 as shown- Light nonreturn valves 5 may be carried onthe stems of valves 4 or a single nonreturn valvecan be placed in theexhaust pipe 7. Corresponding parts are numbered to agree with Fig. 1and the cycle of operations is the same.

To obtain more uniform action andthe benefit to be derived frommeasuring into the chamber a definite combustible charge the completearrangement shown in Fig. 1 may be adopted and the parts not yetreferred to will now be described.

The tank 12 is closed by an air tight top 65 and the sides extended toform a second tank 16 containing liquid in which two small holders 17and 18 for gas and air respectively may rise and fall. The outer holder18 is annular and the-holder 17 is co-axial with it, and arranged sothat when the outer holder rises it carries the inner holder with it byengaging flange 19. In the closed tank 12 there is an air inlet .20fitted with a hinged valve 21 and air is drawn in through this valveeach time. the level of the liquid in tank 12 falls, but when the levelof the liquid rises air is forced through pipe 22 past nonreturn valve23 into the holder 18, thus causing the holder to rise.

An inlet 24 for gas communicates with pipe 25 and holder 17 and gasflows or is drawn into 17 through pipe 25 and valve 26 as 17 rises, oris lifted by the movement of holder18.

Outlet pipes 27 and 28 for gas and air retake.

spectively lead to separate ring mains 29' and 30 which supply theadmission valves 3 and 3. When there is a ring of such valves one valveas 3 may be supplied with gas and the next adjacent valve supplied withair, as shown at valve 3. This secures that there shall be no explosivemixture outside chamber 1.

In the gas pipe 27 there is a throttle valve 31 operated by-a lever 32one end of which is acted upon by a spring 33 to close the valve and theother end is adapted to be acted upon by a weight 34 to open the valve.A cord 35 attached to the holder 18 at 36 and'to the weight 34 iscarried by pulleys 37 pivoted at 38 and the length is adjusted so thatwhen the holder 18 is in its highest position valve 31 is closed byspring 33, but, in falling, weight 34 is lifted and by con-v tact withlever 32 valve 31 is opened. Thus for example when holder 18 falls halfway valve 31 may be opened and maintained open for the rest of the fall.

The fall of the liquid level in tank 12 is caused by the sudden intakeof liquid through valves 10 which occurs toward the end of the workingstroke of the 'pum and the rise is due to the fresh supply of iquidentering the tank through pipe 13 during the period intervening beforethe next in- The operation may begin with the ignition of a compressedcombustible charge in chamber 1 and as already explained atmosphericpressure is attained when the gases have expanded to a a. At this timethe level of liquid in tank 12 is about at its highest and so there isleast air in tank 12 and most air in holder 18 which is in its highestposition. The pressure ofair in holder 18 aided by the further fall ofliquid in chamber 1 to b 6 causes air to flow from the holder pastvalves 3 into the chamber and by introducing sufi'icient air burntproducts may be displaced and driven out past 'valves 4 so long as thesevalves remain open,

and while the liquid is first falling and then rising in chamber 1. Nowuntil holder 18 has fallen far enough to cause the opening of valve 31the gas holder 17 cannot fall, but beyond this point both holders falltogether and supply gas and air to chamber 1 to intermingle therein andto form a combustible mixture in the top thereof. The inflow of themixture may continue until the liquid rising in chamber 1 reaches valves4 and shuts them and the period of inflow may thus cover that part ofthe cycle in which the moving liquid column in play pipell slows downand comes to rest and then moves a considerable portion of its stroke inthe reverse direction, which Period occupies the greater portion ofthetime of a complete cycle. For this reason suflicient air can beintroduced to efiect scavenging and can be followed by the inflow of thecombustible constituents without using any pressures beyond what arecommonly employed in gas holders. Between the closing of valves 4 andtheir next opening the liquid level in tank 12 rises and so forces afresh supply of air through pipe 22 into holder 18 thus lifting bothholders which become charged again ready for the next cycle. Thetendency of liquid to flow from tank 12 into chamber 1, when the levelin the former is the greater,. must not be overlooked.

Changes of level in tank 12 may be modified by making pipe 13 longenough to prevent great variation in velocities of flow. O

For the movable gas holders of Fig. 1 may be substituted a fixed devicefor introducing the gas and air. Such a. device is shown in Fig. .4where the rise and fall of the liquid'in the delivery tank is usedinstead of that in the supply tank. The playpipe 11 is connected with aconical delivery "tank 40 having an outlet 41 for the liquid is pipe 47which is connected with ring main 29 supplying the combustion chamber 1.

Air enters the top of the tank through pipe 48 which extends downward tothe level Z Z and carries a branch fitted with hinged valve 49. Pipe 50conveys the air to ring main 30 above chamber 1.

The action of this part of the apparatus is as follows :--When ignitionoccurs in chamber 1 the level of liquid in 40 is at its lowest, that isatl Z. Liquid is driven along the play pipe 11 into tank 40 where thelevel rises to Z" Z by the time the burnt gases attain atmosphericpressure and exhaust valves 4 open. The rise of liquid from Z I to Z Zdisplaces air from 44 through pipe 48, but further rise past the bottomof this pipe cuts oii' the escape of air through 48 and forces itthrough pipe 50 into ring main 30, and so past the air inlet valves 3into chamber 1, thus displacing burnt products in the chamber. In likemanner, but starting a little later, the gas in 43, some of which hasbeen driven back through pipe 45 as the liquid rises from Z l to Z Z isforced through pipe 47 into chamber 1; and during the change of levelfrom Z Z to the highest level Z Z gas and air are delivered togetherinto the combustion chamto the movement of the liquid in the play pipe,when the liquid column returns toshut valves.4 and compress the freshcombustible charge. During the fall of the liquid, nonreturn valves 46and 49 provide inlets for gas and air respectively until the bottoms ofpipes 45 and 48 are uncovered bythe liquid, and when the lowest' level'.1 1 is again reached 43 and 44 are again charged ready for a'repetitionof the cycle.'

In the previous examples the combustible mixtureris drawn in at the topof the combustion chamber and the burnt products are displaced downward,but as these products, being heated, have a lower specific avity' thanthe incoming air and combustib e mixture or gas, it is sometimesdesirable to displace them upward. This can be efi'ected by thearrangement shown in Fig. 5 where 1 is the combustion chamber having theexhaust valve 4 above the valves 3 and 3 for the admission ofcombustible constituents. In this case the known device of a rigidpiston 51 resting. upon the end of the liquid column is used, andcarriesa rod 52' supported by a spring 53 carried in a tubularprojection 54 attached to the piston. Rod 52 Y is adapted to engageagainst valve 4 and to close this valve when the piston rises far enoughin the combustion chamber. it is obvious that a float attached to valve4 by a rod may be substituted for the plston. Valve 5 serves the samepurpose as the valves 5 in the other constructions.

The operation of the apparatus is as follows :-'Ignitiqn occurs when thepiston 51 has risen and compressed a combustible:

charge in the top of chamber 1 and all valves are shut. As expansionproceeds and atmospheric pressure is attained, piston 51 'uncovers theoutlet of valves 3 and 3 and valve 4 opens but valve 5 is closed. Thefurther downward movement of the piston along with the water columnpermits the intake of combustible constituents through valves 3,.

3, until the piston and water column come to rest and valves 3, 3 areshut by suitable springs, not shown. The return movement of the watercolumn then lifts the driving out the burnt products, which in this caseare on top, ejecting them past valves 4 and 5, until rod 52 reachesvalve 4, and shuts it. The further movement of the piston compresses thefresh combustible charge in the top of chamber 1, and the ignition ofthis charge starts a fresh cycle. .Rod 52 should be of such length as toclose valve 4 as soon as the products are nearly expelled, so thatlittle or no combustible mixture may be lost. It will be observed thatthe valves 3, 3 are situated in recesses so that pis ton 51 may risepast them. It will also. be

valve 4 and shuts it, the further movement iston,

pressed." The cycle is essentiallylthe same in this as inthe 'reviously'descrlbed cases" but the combustib e mixture is taken in below the burntgases. Gas and air may be intrcduwd by movements in the sup 1y liquid inamanner difl'eringfsomewhat rom that described with reference to Fig. 1as W111 Y be explained with reference to Fig 6 in which correspondingparts are numbered as before. The liquid inlet valves 10 are surroundedby an annular chamber 13, forming a closed end tothe supply pipe 13, in"

which is fixed a bell 55 divided by artition i 42 into two chambers 43and 44 a apted to ed to be closed by the liquid as it reaches them. Theintroduction of the gases is efiected 1n the following manner :-Supposethe level of the liquid supply is at d d, that the supply pipe 13 islong enough for the liquid 1n it to have considerable inertia, and that1 Ignition and expansion occurs in chamber 1 and when atmosphericpressure is attained valves 10 and '4 open... Liquid rushes in throughvalves 10 and the first efiectis to lower the level in the nearestsourceof supply namely chambers 43 and-'44 since the mass of liquid in pipe 13cannot be quickly accelerated. Gas is thus taken into chamber 43 throughpipe 45 and the air into chamber 44 through pipe 48- while the flow ofliquid in pipe 13 is being accelerated and until the chambers 43 and 44are nearly full of liquid.

su ply of liquid in 13 equals the flow through v a ves 10. The outwardmovement of the l1qu1d column in play pipe 11 is now decreasinginvelocity but the flow in pipe 13 having attainedlits maximum velocitytends to be maintained by the momentum ofthe liquidiand .soj'the surplussupply of liquid rises in chambers 43 and 44, shuts valves 57 and 56' inturn, and delivers gas and air' through pipes 47 and 50 and valve 3 intochamber 1, until the liquid reaching valves 58 and 59 shuts them and isbrought to rest by compressing the unrejectedgas and air entrapped inthe tops of chambers 43 and 44.

By suitably proportioning the parts, the delivery of the gas, andair mayoccur wholly or partly during the return stroke of the column in pipe11", but before the llqurd -rlses in chamber 1 far enough to closeexhaust valves 4. In such case an ordinary scavenging valvev 60, seeFig. 6, for air, con- 65 of piston 51, causes spring 53 to be trolled bya light spring, not shown, is pro-"1st 2. The combination of a play pipefor the reciprocation of a liquid column, a power chamber provided withintake and-discharge means, means for utilizing the movement of theoutstroke in introducing a fresh expansible charge and in expelling theexhaust, and means for utilizing the movement of the return stroke tocompress said char e..

3. In combination with a liquld supply, an expansion chamber, a playpipe for the reciprocation'of a liquid column, means for utilizing themovement of the outstroke in introducing a fresh expansible charge andexpelling the exhaust, and means for utilizing the change of level ofthe liquid supply for controlling the level to which the liquid falls inthe expansion space during the outstroke and thus .aiiecting thevolumetric intake of the fresh expansible charge.

4. In combination with a liquid supply, an expansion chamber, a playpipe for the reci rocation of a liquid column, means for utilizing themovement of the outstroke in introducing a fresh expansible charge andexpelling the exhaust, and means for utilizing the change of level ofthe liquid supply for controlling the level towhich the liquid falls inthe expansion space during the outstroke and thus afiecting thevolumetric in= take of the fresh expansible charge and the displacement.

5. The combination with a'liquid supply, of a play pipe for thereciprocation of a liquid column, a power chamber providedwith intakeand discharge means and means for utilizing the movement of theoutstroke in introducing a fresh expansible charge and in expelling theexhaust after the lowering of the level of the liquid during theinstroke has drawn a fresh charge into the space vacated by said liquid;

6. The combination with a liquid supply, of a play pipe for thereciprocation of a liquid column, a power chamber provided with intakeand discharge means, and means for utilizing the movement of theoutstroke in introducing a fresh expansible charge and in expelling theexhaust, and means for utilizing the change of level of the liquiddelivered for displacing the exhaust by introducing the fresh expansiblecharge.

7. The combination of an expansion chamber and a play pipe for thereciprocation of a liquid column, the outstroke of said reciprocationbeing due to an expansive force,

means for utilizing the later period of said outstroke movement tointroduce a fresh expansible charge, and means for utilizing the.

earlier period of the return stroke to discharge the exhaust, and thelater period 0 the return stroke to compress the charge.

HERBERT, ALFRED mmrmmr.

